Putin says Trump ideas could bring peace, but sticks to hardline Ukraine war stance

President Vladimir Putin asserted on Thursday that Russian forces are advancing daily in Ukraine, claiming full control of the Luhansk region and over 85% of Donetsk. Speaking to foreign media editors on the sidelines of Russia's economic forum, Putin stated that manpower, industrial resources, and willpower favor Russia. He also mentioned that Moscow needs to improve its air defenses against a growing threat from Ukrainian drones.

Putin suggested that peace proposals attributed to US President Donald Trump could end the fighting if Kyiv is willing to compromise. This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy published an open letter proposing a meeting with Putin to agree on an end to the war, warning that Kyiv is prepared to continue fighting. Putin's spokesman acknowledged awareness of Zelenskyy's message but had not yet reviewed it in detail.

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the offensive is ongoing on a daily basis. At present, the Russian Federation has taken full control of the Luhansk People’s Republic, 100 percent. And Russia has brought over 85 percent of the territory of the Donetsk People’s ​Republic under its control. (And) 80 percent of the territory of the Zaporizhzhia region

Despite Putin's optimistic assessment, some Western and Ukrainian military analysts contend that Russia's advance has slowed considerably and that the country is far from achieving its military objectives. Putin, however, struck a bullish tone, detailing territorial gains in Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, which Moscow claimed in 2022. He indicated that Kyiv's desire for a halt to the advance would be better addressed by ending the war through compromises, referencing past discussions with Trump in Alaska. Putin also suggested the European Union could use its influence to persuade Kyiv to negotiate.

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Naturally, under these circumstances, the Ukrainian side would like us to halt the advance. But rather than stopping that, it would be better to bring the war to an end altogether by agreeing to the compromises that were discussed in Anchorage